Stories about English from May, 2008
Brazil: Visible and Invisible Indians and Scoops
Brazilian Indians were in the spotlight of world media this week. From the images of an uncontacted tribe in the Amazon, to the enraged protest caught on camera against the building of dams along the Xingu River in the Amazon basin where an official of Brazil’s national electric company got slashed by traditional machetes and clubs.
South Africa: Bloggers need to do more than just write
A few South African bloggers are thinking about positive steps to take with regard to the current xenophobia crisis in South Africa. Stii asks, “What can we as bloggers do about the Xenophobia crisis?” and Mike Stopforth calls on South African bloggers to do something. Meanwhile, Afrigator has launched a special Xenophobia Crisis Page.
Burkina Faso: Level four culture shock
In The United Kingdom a bit more than a week ago, the Office of National Statistics reported that in the past ten years, nearly two million Britons have moved abroad, making up the second largest emigration in the country’s history. Presently, that means that 5.5 million Britons live in foreign countries. So, what does this have to do with Burkina Faso? It proves a point, a fundamental truth really, about foreigners: They eventually go home. Or at least most of them do. It just happens that in Burkina Faso, a number of foreign bloggers are getting ready to pack up their things and head elsewhere.
Lebanon: Palestinian Children's Exhibition
Lebanese Rania Masri writes about a photography exhibition by the children Palestinian refugees, living in camps in Lebanon. “500 cameras were placed in the hands of 500 children in all the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon,” she explains.
Syria: Golan Cherries for Export
From Syria, Sasa writes: “Syrian farmers living under Israeli occupation have asked Israel to allow them to sell their cherries inside Syria. Living under occupation means they can not travel to Syria or visit their families, and they certainly can't send shipments of their produce into Syria.”
Lebanon: The Doha Agreement
Lebanese political leaders who met in Doha under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani reached an agreement last week. The full text of the agreement was posted by Blogging Beirut among others. As a result of the Doha Agreement the Lebanese parliament convened...
Colombia: FARC Leader “Sureshot” is Confirmed Dead
After countless false claims of the death of the FARC's top leader Manuel Marulanda Vélez aka "Sureshot," the Colombian government confirmed that he passed away in March of natural causes. Colombian bloggers were quick to react and provide their thoughts on what this means for the future of the guerrilla group, the future presidential elections, and Sureshot's legacy.
Georgia: Opposition Protests
Following the recent parliamentary election in the country, Resistance Georgia has posted photographs of the protest demonstrations which followed the landslide win for the ruling government party. The pro-opposition blog also posts some updates on the situation.
Armenia: Last Bell
Kyle's Journey in Armenia, a Peace Corps Blog, reports on the end of the school year in Armenia. The Last Bell is quite an occasion for graduates of 11th form students and the blog posts photographs and an account from the north-east of the country.
Armenia: Diaspora Fatigue
Life in Armenia, a blog run by ethnic Armenians from the Diaspora resident in the country, says that the number of tourists and volunteers visiting Armenia might be dropping following the recent post-election unrest as well as for other reasons. However, the blog says that Armenia is still worth visiting...
Nepal: Improving the economy
Nepal Monitor on the possible strategies to revive Nepal's economy.
Bangladesh: Coping with price rise
Unheard Voices has a series of posts on how communities in poverty-struck areas are coping with increasing prices and government apathy.
Myanmar: Inadequate aid
Penguin Blog uploads an article by American journalist Emma Larkin who has a first-hand account of the cyclone disaster in Myanmar. Larkin notes the small aid reaching the Burmese: ” It is like throwing sesame seeds into the mouth of an elephant.”
Thailand: Websites closed for “talking” about monarchy
Absolutely Thailand writes that the Asian Human Rights Commission has received information that two websites were illegally blocked while 29 sites face closure in Thailand for allowing an open-forum discussion about the Thai monarchy.
Singapore blogger dares Lee Kuan Yew to sue him
Blogger Gopalan Nair dares Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew to sue him. IZ Reloaded thinks it could be “the most daring or foolish act ever in the history of the blogosphere.”
Bomb blast in southern Philippines
Aspiring citizen journalist All about the filth went immediately to the scene of a bomb blast outside a military base in southern Philippines
Urbanisation in Southeast Asia
Scholar and blogger Alvin Lim tackles the phenomenon of “urbanisation without industrialisation” in Southeast Asia.
Connecting Cambodian bloggers
Clogger Corner attracts Cambodia bloggers, or preferably known as Cloggers.
Bahrain: Car Respect
From Bahrain, Flymenian writes about superficial people judge people based on the value of cars they drive.
Egypt: On the Hijab
Egyptian Arima shares her ideas on a controversial post on the Islamic headscarf worn by women.
Egypt: Styill Building Pyramids
Tom Gara says the Egyptians are continuing to build pyramids – in this sarcastic post.